It’s the grinding I can’t stand – –
The constant tell that something’s wrong.
The aches and pains:
Irrelevant really.
No one else Feels them
Knows them
Believes them.
It’s a falsehood,
Apparently.
And when I dissent, the
Fault is Mine.
And when I acquiesce, the
Fault is Mine.
But it’s My flesh and bone
Screaming into deafened ears:
(It’s My Ache, My Pain)
Pleading for recognition.
Still, ignorance prevails,
And I am left
Trying to convince you
That the sky is blue,
After all.
June-July 2025
Author: Es the Book Hoarder
Blunt
I am (a Shadow)
Cigarette-thin paper
Torn
from an exquisite manuscript.
Faded.
Letters
from long forgotten scrolls
Immaculately inked.
Dark then, now greyed
On yellowed backdrops of once
Crystal white.
A corrupted nib –
Near blunt –
Near Extinct.
Near.
But not yet.
Not yet.
Panic with the Bingo!!!
This is one of the reasons why I purchased a screaming goat.
They are totally worth the money!!!
ARRRRGH!!!
RIGHT IN MY GODDAMN EAR!
Here’s a re-cap…
So, in 2024, I discovered Reddit. Yes, I know, but as I always say, I’m always late to parties (and when I’m there you can find me in the kitchen.) When I discovered Reddit, I discovered r/fantasy and then the yearly book bingo challenge they run there. Which is awesome!!! I have to get this out there – this is a really, really good challenge – it’s organised well, the categories are varied, the recommendation threads are amazing (and very enabling – my TBR list is about 50 times longer now!)
I can’t do anything the easy way, and it’s a challenge, so I challenged myself. Not only did I decide to do the Hard Mode for each category, but I also decided to choose all authors that I’ve never read before (easier than it sounds because I was very limited, even though I was quite well-read) – go me!
Anyway, I’ve said most of this before in my intro post to the 2024 Bingo review section, so I’m not going to repeat everything, BUT, and this is a BIG but, I’m having a BIT of a panic, because I’ve still got SEVEN books left to read, and it’s already the end of February! In fact, there’s only FIVE weeks until the challenge closes. And a couple of them are BIG books (a lessons learned post will be forthcoming at the end of the challenge) and I’m trying to stop worrying – ’cause hey, it’s supposed to fun, right? It’s not going to be fun if I STRESS about it, so I’m just have this little worry-rant, so I can stop doing that!!
This screaming goat is coming in really handy!!!!
Existence
One score and nine years ago
(OK, that’s a tad dramatic, but…)
An entire existence –
as it was –
Obliterated
by ink on paper and
Blue-green hues evaporated
in the scent of tender wood, whisky and spice.
(And then again, before)
that existence –
as it was –
Fabricated
in snapshots of
Skewed perception and ransomed
in paper and words and broken promises.
(And now?)
Existing –
as it is –
Existing.
Written January 2024
boc-hord 